USDA Designates 9 Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. 

Impacted Area: Massachusetts

Triggering Disaster: Excessive Rain from 7/1/2023 – 10/31/2023

Application Deadline: 7/17/2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Worcester 

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Massachusetts: Dukes, Plymouth, Suffolk

Connecticut: Hartford, Litchfield, Tolland, Windham

New Hampshire: Cheshire, Hillsborough, Rockingham

New York: Columbia, Dutchess, Rensselaer

Rhode Island: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence

Vermont: Bennington, Windham 

More Resources

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.